In today’s Second Reading, Paul explains to the Colossians (and us) that the baptism they received is more than being  united to Christ; it is a death to one’s self. How much better a world we would have if we could remember to put this into practice! Paul’s list of earthly sins reads like the opening stories on the nightly news or in the newspaper. Whether it was 1,960 years ago with the Colossians, or today with us, it is easy to be lured by things of the world. One of the challenges of our spiritual life is not to be obsessed by them. If we heed Paul’s message and focus on “what is above,” it becomes much easier.